‘FOIA Is Not a Conviction’: APC Chieftain Accuses Opposition of Recycling Tinubu Drug Allegations Ahead of 2027

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An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has rejected renewed claims linking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to an alleged drug-trafficking case in the United States, insisting that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) proceeding does not amount to a criminal prosecution or conviction.

Oyintiloye, who spoke with journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, accused opposition politicians of reviving old allegations against the president in an attempt to gain political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that reports describing the U.S. proceedings as a reopening of a criminal case against Tinubu misrepresent the nature of an FOIA action, which generally concerns requests for access to government records.

“An FOIA case is about access to government records. It is not a criminal trial, a retrial or a judicial declaration of guilt,” Oyintiloye said.

The APC chieftain said Nigerians should distinguish between law-enforcement records and evidence that has been tested in court and resulted in a conviction.

According to him, files maintained by agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can contain investigative leads, allegations, intelligence or information supplied by third parties.

He maintained that the existence of such records, by itself, should not be interpreted as proof that a person committed a crime.

Oyintiloye also cited FOIA Exemption 7(C), which allows certain law-enforcement records to be withheld where releasing them could constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

He consequently warned against what he described as “trial by document”, saying government records must be properly understood and placed within their legal context before conclusions are drawn.

“Privacy is not a crime. An investigation is not a conviction. A document is not automatically a fact simply because it bears the seal of a government agency,” he said.

Oyintiloye said allegations surrounding Tinubu’s past had repeatedly returned to the political arena at critical moments in his career.

He recalled that questions surrounding the president’s academic credentials and other allegations became subjects of intense political debate during his years as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007 and resurfaced during the 2023 presidential campaign.

The APC chieftain accused opposition figures of relying on what he described as recycled allegations involving certificate forgery, criminality and drug trafficking rather than presenting Nigerians with alternative policies and programmes.

He challenged opposition politicians to explain what they would do differently if elected in 2027.

According to him, Nigerians deserve to hear concrete proposals on the economy, security, employment, infrastructure and other issues affecting their daily lives.

Oyintiloye said the approaching 2027 election should provide an opportunity for political parties to compete on ideas and governance rather than personal attacks.

He argued that candidates should be assessed based on their records, manifestoes, policies and ability to provide solutions to the country’s challenges.

“The opposition should tell us their manifesto, not blackmail. Tell Nigerians what you have on the table and why they should vote for you,” he said.

His comments come as political activity surrounding the 2027 elections begins to intensify, with the record of the Tinubu administration and controversies surrounding the president likely to remain major issues in the political contest.

Oyintiloye’s statements represent his position on the FOIA proceedings and allegations concerning Tinubu. Any determination of what specific U.S. records contain, or whether they establish criminal wrongdoing, would require examination of the underlying court filings and official records rather than political statements.